Clamp.



WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, OF EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RIGI-IWIN' MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLAMP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. RICHARD- SON, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Edwardsville, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following isa specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in portable clamps and is adapted to provide a device of'this character having a pair of adjacent sides or walls, one of which is adapted to provide a bearing for a comparatively thin article to be carried, the other side having a gripping clamp or dog, pivotally mounted and so constructed as to bind against the opposing article being carried with a force dependent on the gravitating strain.

One preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face View in elevation, showing the device as adapted for either portable suspension or for fixed attachment against a wall or other surface.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view indicated by the line II, II, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, indicated by the line III, III, of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 4: is a view in elevation, partly broken away, showing the device provided 7 with a carrying handle.

Referring to the drawings:

The main holding frame of the device is preferably made of a rigid construction as by means of a casting, and is provided with a rear, fiat, comparatively wide wall 2, and a similar front wall 3, with an intervening space 4%. These opposing wall members are rigidly connected at their upper middle portion by an over-arching or cross-top portion, preferably reinforced by a series of strengthening ribs 5.

Front wall 3 is recessed across its middle lower portion, as indicated at 6, providing ample clearance for an elongated gripping clamp or dog 7 Said dog is provided with a curved gripping face 8, arranged with relation to a pivoting bolt 9, as eccentric thereto, of a constantly increasing radius somewhat like a gripping cam.

The face 8 of dog 7, is preferably continuously ridged or toothed lengthwise from one end to the other, whereby to provide an ample gripping surface for the article to be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed December 2, 1916. Serial No. 134,672.

carried, and providing for a considerable variation in the thickness of such article or articles. i

The dog is pivoted at 9 upon a cross bolt, which may be riveted at each end in outwardly extending lugs 10, 10, and the dog is freely rotatable on such pivotal mounting, so as to freely engage against the article or object being carried, and to bind more firmly thereagainst, as its weight and downwardly pulling tendency lncreases.

In the illustration shown in Fig. 2, such article or object 11 is shown, as a board or plank or any other suitable material. In operation the article is inserted upwardly between the facing walls 2, R and between the back wall thereof and the freely mounted gripping dog 7, or the clamping device itself may also be lowered upon the article to be lifted and carried, the resulting effect being substantiallv the same.

At its upper middle portion, the frame is provided with a lifting eye 12, by which it may be connected with the hook of a lifting crane or other similar implement and transferred, as will be readily understood.

On the other hand, should it be desired to mount the device fixedly in position, as against a wall or other surface, the rear portion 2 may be provided with a series of bolt holes 13 at its corner portions, or suitable outwardly extending lugs may be provided for such purpose.

In Fig. 4, the main frame is of generally similar construction to that above described, being provided with the gripping dog in the same operative relation, but is supplied with a carrying handle 12, pivotally or otherwise connected with the top of the frame, as by engagement with upwardly extending lugs 14, 14. By such construction, the device may be carried, together with any suspended article or articles, in the manner simple,

The device maybe made in various designs and different sizes, to adapt it to any particular work in view, but all such changes, however, are to be understood as within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A clamping device consisting of a U- shaped frame, providing a back and front wall and having a transverse opening through the front Wall, outwardly extending bearing lugs at each end portion thereof, and a gripping dog, pivoted at each end to vsaid bearing lugs and extending through said opening, having an elongated transversely grooved or corrugated gripping face adapted to bind inwardly upon rotation to- Ward the opposite inner face of the outer wall, said'frame being provided with means for supporting it.

2.7 A clampingdevice conslsting ofv ,a' U- shaped frame, providing a 1 back and; front wall and having a transverse opening through the front Wall, pivotal bearings at each end portion thereof, and a gripping dog, pivotally mounted in said opening, having an elongated, transversely grooved or corrugated gripping face adapted to bind WILLIAM a}. RICHARDSGNl Qopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing' the Commissionerlof IPatents,

7 Washington, D, G. 

